WesWorld

Spokesman for Russian Federation Border Guards announced yesterday that icebreaker Laptev Sea has gotten stuck on a pressure ridge, at approximately 73 deg 22'N 73 deg 47'E. Thickness of pressure ridge has been measured at over 5 meters. Attempts by her escorted merchant ships to tow her off have resulted in significant hull damage (~25%), and she has taken on ~300 tons of water. Towing attempts have ceased, and Laptev Sea is in no danger of sinking. Icebreaker Arctica has been dispatched from Murmansk to free merchant ships Laptev Sea had been leading.

Border Guards spokesman Arkady Nikolaievich Yepishev emphasized that Laptev Sea is well-designed to deal with this situation. "Her hull is 50mm thick along her side, and she is constructed with 50% greater structural strength than Russian battleships. Her internal defenses against underwater damage consist of a 25mm bulkhead, a 50mm bulkhead, and a 25mm bulkhead, each separated by one meter. Her 33 meter beam allows extensive internal compartmentation. Only the outer hull has been pierced, along a length of 14 meters, so flooding has been limited. She has fuel sufficient to maintain heat and electrical power for about 800 days, at her present rate of consumption. Supplies of fresh food and water have been dispatched to Laptev Sea and her charges by ski-plane.

Capabilities of Arctica class icebreakers are available here.

Glad to hear help is near....

Quoted

Glad to hear help is near....

Arctica is on her way to help, but has about 1000nm of pack ice to get through, at about 2 knots...

That'll take her about 21 days to get there

El Presidente (who fashions himself an expert on biology) sends best wishes to the crew of the Laptev and reminds them not to eat the liver of the polar bear.